Surgical Pillow

ABSTRACT

A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user includes a neck rest member to support the neck of the user and having an aperture, a headrest member to support the head of the user, a base member to position and support the neck rest member and the headrest member, a support member to cooperate with the aperture of the neck rest member to support the neck rest member. The headset member includes a first outwardly projecting member and a second outwardly projecting member. The first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member form an angle of approximately 90°. The aperture may be substantially D shaped, and the support member may be substantially a cylinder. The first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member may form a substantial V shape and the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member includes a curved top surface. The neck rest member includes a inclined front surface, and the neck rest member includes a curved top surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an useful surgical pillow structure.

Surgical pillows are generally used to support the head and neck of a patient during the performance of surgical procedures. In the past, many pillows have been devised to support the head of persons. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,799,275 and 5,163,195, as well as European Patent EP 0880925 A1 show pillow structures which are intended to provide comfort to the user in various situations.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,448 describes a prone position support pillow with cut outs to accommodate anatomical features of the face to provide comfort to the user.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,752,064, 5,269,035, 5,613,501, Des. 298,992 and Des. 337,914 show surgical pillows having contoured upper face regions to support the user during surgical procedures.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,983 describes a head and chin rest usable for facedown surgical procedures. The base of the pillow has a rocker structure to allow pivoting of the head and chin rest of the patient. The head and chin rests are stabilized with a wedge such as a small towel when a comfortable position is determined.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,831 teaches a surgical pillow having a base portion formed of coarse foam which permits air to pass. An upper portion is formed of soft or fine open cell foam which also is pervious to air. The upper foam is finer than the foam employed in the base portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,058 discloses a surgical prone pillow structure utilizing a base member formed of a compressible resilient material which rapidly assumes an original configuration upon the release of pressure. An upper member formed of a molded resilient closed cell foam material is also employed. The upper member possesses a soft outer surface which is contoured to contact the head of a patient while the patient lies in a prone position. The base member and the soft upper member are connected to one another to form seams which are soft to the touch.

None of these references discloses a surgical pillow that is adequate to provide for head and neck support for a surgical application.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, an useful surgical prone pillow structure is herein provided.

A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user includes a neck rest member to support the neck of the user and having an aperture, a headrest member to support the head of the user, a base member to position and support the neck rest member and the headrest member, a support member to cooperate with the aperture of the neck rest member to support the neck rest member.

The headset member includes a first outwardly projecting member and a second outwardly projecting member.

The first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member form an angle of approximately 90°.

The aperture may be substantially D shaped, and the support member may be substantially a cylinder.

The first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member may form a substantial V shape and the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member includes a curved top surface.

The neck rest member includes a inclined front surface, and the neck rest member includes a curved top surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the top of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the bottom of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the surgical pillow the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the headrest of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the top of the headrest of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the bottom of the headrest of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the neck rest of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the neck rest of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom view of the neck rest of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the top of the neck rest of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the bottom of the neck rest of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the support member of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of the support member of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of the surgical pillow of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the surgical pillow of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a surgical pillow 100 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The surgical pillow 100 includes a neck rest member 102, a headrest member 104, a base member 106 and a support member 108. The base member 106 and the support member 108 are formed from rigid material so that the base member 106 can position and support the neck rest member 102 and the headrest member 104 and so that the support member 108 can position and support the neck rest member 102.

The neck rest member 102 and the headrest member 104 may be formed from a closed cell form material which is compressible resilient and which returns to the original configuration.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the surgical pillow 100 which includes the neck rest member 102, the headrest member 104, the base member 106 and the support member 108.

FIG. 4 illustrates the headrest member 104 which includes a first outwardly projecting member 402 and a second outwardly projecting member 404. The first outwardly projecting member 102 is substantially identical to the second outwardly projecting checking member 404 and formed at substantially a perpendicular angle with respect to each other to form a substantial V shape. However, other angles are within the scope of the present invention. The first outwardly projecting member 402 and the second outwardly projecting member 404 each include a front surface 406 which is substantially planar and a curved top surface 408 which is curved to prevent sharp angles from causing discomfort to the user. Additionally, each of the first outwardly projecting member 402 and the second outwardly projecting member 404 include a substantially planar side surface 410.

FIG. 5 illustrates that the interior side surface 410 of the first outwardly projecting member 402 intersects with the interior side surface 410 of the second outwardly projecting member 402 to provide for surfaces where the user may rest his/her head. FIG. 5 additionally illustrates the front surface 406 and the back surface 412.

FIG. 6 illustrates another perspective view of the headrest member 104 of the surgical pillow 100. FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom surface 414 which is shown as being substantially planar. The exterior side surface 410 is shown as well as the front surface 406.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the neck rest member 402 of the present invention. The neck rest member 402 includes a curved top surface 702 which is curved front to back, a substantially vertical front surface 710, an inclined front surface 704, a substantially planar side surface 706 and an opposing curved back surface 714. The neck rest member 402 includes a substantially planar bottom surface 708. FIG. 7 additionally illustrates a substantially D shaped aperture 712 which extends from the side surface 706 to the opposing side surface 706.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the neck rest member 402, and FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom view of the neck rest member 402.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of neck rest member 402 including the inclined front surface 704, the vertical front surface 710, the D shaped aperture 712, the side surface 706 and the curved top surface 702.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the neck rest member 402 including the bottom surface 708 and the curved back surface 714.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the support member 108 which is shown as an elongated cylinder member 1202 to support the neck rest member 102 and which may be rigid in order to provide adequate support to the neck rest member 102. The support member 108 is shaped to cooperate with the substantially D shaped aperture 712 and to support the curved top surface 702 and the inclined front surface 704. Other shapes are within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the elongated cylinder member 1202.

FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of the surgical pillow 100 and shows the headrest member 104 and the neck rest member 102. FIG. 14 illustrates the curved top surface 408 of the headrest member 104 and the side surface 410 of the headrest member 104. FIG. 14 shows the curved top surface 702 of the neck rest member 102.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the surgical pillow 100 of the present invention and shows the headrest member 104, the neck rest member 102, the base member 106 and the support member 108. FIG. 15 illustrates the side surface 410 of the headrest member 104 and the side surface 706 of the neck rest member 102.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. 

1) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user, comprising: a neck rest member to support the neck of the user and having an aperture; a headrest member to support the head of the user; a base member to position and support the neck rest member and the headrest member; a support member to cooperate with the aperture of the neck rest member to support the neck rest member. 2) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 1, wherein the headset member includes a first outwardly projecting member and a second outwardly projecting member. 3) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 2, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member form an angle of approximately 90°. 4) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 1, wherein the aperture is substantially D shaped. 5) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 1, wherein the support member is substantially a cylinder. 6) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 2, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member forms a substantial V shape. 7) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 2, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member includes a curved top surface. 8) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 2, wherein the neck rest member includes a inclined front surface. 9) A surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 1, wherein the neck rest member includes a curved top surface. 10) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user, comprising the steps of: forming a neck rest member to support the neck of the user and having an aperture; forming a headrest member to support the head of the user; forming a base member to position and support the neck rest member and the headrest member; forming a support member to cooperate with the aperture of the neck rest member to support the neck rest member. 11) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 10, wherein the headset member includes a first outwardly projecting member and a second outwardly projecting member. 12) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 11, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member form an angle of approximately 90°. 13) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 10, wherein the aperture is substantially D shaped. 14) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 10, wherein the support member is substantially a cylinder. 15) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 11, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member forms a substantial V shape. 16) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 11, wherein the first outwardly projecting member and the second outwardly projecting member includes a curved top surface. 17) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 11, wherein the neck rest member includes a inclined front surface. 18) A method for forming a surgical pillow for supporting the head and neck of a user as in claim 10, wherein the neck rest member includes a curved top surface. 